| Notes |
- Mary Helen Haines notes:
His name is spelled many different ways: Cairnes Starrett, Kerns Sterrett, Carnes Sterrett
The childrens' baptism dates comes from: Records of Upper West Conococheague Presbyterian Church in Mercersburg, Franklin Co. PA Baptisms found in the Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, Vol. 14 and 15. Published 1944.
From Tax lists, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania: 1750, 1751, 1752, 1753, 1762, 1763, 1764, 1765, 1766, 1767 by Merri Lou Scribner Schaumann, 1898
Carnes Sterrett on the 1753 tax list for Peters Township, p. 24, same page as Robert McFarlan and Widow McFarland
1763 as Kerns Sterrat with 200 acres. (p. 49)
1766 Kerns Sterrit had 3 horses, 7 cattle, 9 sheep, 200 acres. (p. 101)
Land Warrants in Franklin Co. PA:
Cairnes Starrett: 75 acres on June 15, 1786
Kerns Sterrett: 25 acres on Apr. 24, 1794
Carnes Sterrett: 40 acres on Apr. 25, 1794
The following was found on the Ancestry tree attached to Benjamin and Cairnes Sterrett
THE STERRETT FAMILY
Source: THE STERRETT GENEALOGY compiled by T. Woods Sterrett Fairview, Pennsylvania; The Tuttle, Morehouse, and Taylor Company; New Haven, Connecticut, 1930.
STERRETT FAMILY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Descendents of Benjamin
1. Benjamin Sterrett.
Died intestate, in the county of Lancaster, Province of Pennsylvania, in 1739. Letters of administration were granted March 17, 1739, to his widow Isabelle, John Sterrett and Andrew Mayes, sureties. No children mentioned. Family tradition says he was the father of Robert Sterrett of Lancaster and Dauphin Counties.
In a deed from Cairns Starret and Mary, his wife, to Abraham and Henry Stricklas, under the date of March 26, 1759, found in Book K, page 32, of Lancaster County Records, the following proof of certain of the children of the above Benjamin is found:
...."Whereas, Benjamin Sterret, late of the county of Lancaster, - deceased, in his lifetime became seized in fee of two tracts of land, situate then in the twp. of Donegal, but since division of the townships, in twpt. Rapho, in said county, one tract thereof beginning ....etc. The other tract beginning ....etc. Which said two tracts of land were confirmed to the said Benjamin Sterret being do seized thereof, died intestate, and left issue three sons and one daughter, - John, James and above named Cairns, the sons, and Mary the wife of John Kennedy, the daughter, to whom the above described lands and premises descended in common as heirs at law. John Kennedy and wife, and John conveyed their undivided share of above described lands devolved to the above named Cairns Sterrett by means whereof he the said Cairns Sterrett became seized in fee of the whole of the lands and premises above described."
This deed conveys these two tracts of land to Abrham and Henry Sticklas.
From this it is proved that Benjamin Sterret, or Sterrett, left at least the following children:
. i. John, d. Lancaster County, April 5, 1748; m. Martha
. ii. James, d. Intestate; no issue
. iii. Cairns, said to have been b. 1721; d. 1798, Franklin Co; m. Maria Mayes
5. iv. Mary, m. John Kennedy
. v. Possibly, also, Samuel, d. Lancaster County, March, 1776; m. Margaret _______.
. vi. And, Robert, d. Lancaster County, April, 1777; m. Mary Ramsey.
Second Generation
2. John Sterrett (of Benjamin 1). Of Rapho Township, Lancaster County, Pa., made a nuncupative will April 5, 1748, in presence of Samuel Scott and William Wallace, who deposed on May 10 that he had died two hours after his will. The executors were his wife, Martha, son James, and his brother-in-law, Andrew Work. - Lancaster County Probates.
His wife, Martha Work, made her will November 11, 1751, which registered May 20, 1754. The executor’s were Andrew Work and Joseph Sterrett. Her will calls daughter Mary, "Mary Smith," and names beside her, only her daughters Ann Sterrett and Rebecca Sterrett; John Sterrett, a son and James Sterret, a grandson. John is probably a misreading for Joseph, or else was a grandson, as the only two sons mentioned in any of the deeds between these children were James and Joseph, both named in their father's will, which calls Mary, "Mary Sterret."
Children, born Rapho Township, Lancaster County
i. James, b. 1723; m. Mary _____(deeds with her, 1753, 1761). d. March 30, 1808, ae. 85 yrs. Buried Donegal churchyard.
ii. Joseph, extr. mother's will, 1754
iii. Mary, m. _____ Smith between 1748 - 1751.
iv. Ann, called spinster in deed, 1753
v. Rebecca
vi. Elizabeth, m. Edward Crawford before 1748.
vii. Martha, m. April 3, 1745, James Wilson.
viii. Sarah, m. Abraham Lowry, before 1748
ix. Daughter, probably deceased before 1748, as her father mentions three children of William Young.
Taken from Ellis, Franklin and Samuel Evans.
History of Lancaster County Pa. Everts & Peck, 1883. p. 764
The Sterretts - John Sterrett, the pioneer settler of the name, located in Donegal Township in 1720 near Chikis Creek. He was very active in Cresap's war, and helped to arrest him. He was elected sheriff in 1744. He died in 1747, leaving a widow, Martha, and the following - named children: James, Joseph, Mary Ann, Elizabeth married Edward Crawford, Martha married James Wilson; Sarah married Abraham Lowry; another daughter married William Young. In 1745, 1746, 1747, James Sterrett was elected sheriff. (More, but didn't copy).
p. 759 Assessment Roll
John Steret 1718
p. 1025
The Sterretts were also quite early settlers of the township. They owned land on both sides of the Chikis, both in Rapho and Donegal townships.
Ulster to America: The Scots-Irish Migration Experience, 1680-1830
edited by Warren R. Hofstra
Page 62
Benjamin Sterrett’s inventory, taken in 1739, included a loom, tow cards and hackles, and 105 yards of linen. This prosperous Donegal Township farmer had an indentured servant, and several neighbors owed money, but his appraisers listed no furniture of any kind, only pewter and wooden dishes.
Page 63
The Donegal economy did not take long to move from subsistence to specialization. The loss of Lancaster county tax records from 1722 and 1751 has made it difficult o chart the pace of change, but there are many clues in extant records. The Sterretts for instance, were distillers and did well. By the time John Sterrett died in 1748, he left his heirs two slaves, the time of a man servant, copper stills, and 300 gallons of distilled liquor, in addition to a plantation in Donegal Township, livestock, farming utensils, and household furniture. John Sterrett’s brother-in-law and neighbor, Joseph Work, another early settler, developed a tannery on his farm that in his son’s time employed a half-dozen indentured servants,
Page 70
James Sterrett, County sheriff in 1745-1747 and treasurer in 1748, also subscribed for the minister’s salary. He was the eldest son of John Sterrett, farmer and distiller, who was county treasurer in 1742-1747 and died in 1748. James Sterrett left Donegal Township for Baltimore, Maryland in 1761and formed a partnership with William Smith, his wife’s cousin, as distillers and general merchants.
Historical Papers and Addresses of the Lancaster County ..., Volumes 17-18
By Lancaster County Historical Society (Pa.) p. 124
In the issue of March 11, 1740 [American Weekly Mercury], there is an account of Benjamin Sterrett, going home from a neighbor's house, found dead by a small creek. I mention this only to show that the Sterrett ancestry lived in the western part of Lancaster county, around Donegal, as we all know, and in other sections. Chief Justice Sterrett, of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, descended from them.
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Abt 1727 - 1798 (71 years)
